School days and a read-aloud recommendation

I really wanted to write here on the blog today, but I am having a sinus headache and finding it a bit tricky to type with my rice bag propped on my forehead. ;) We'll see how long I can manage this.

...

Not long, apparently, since I've already moved it to the back of my neck. Oh well, that hurts, too, so we're good to go!

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We're finishing up Week 3 of school around here and it's going so, so well. I'm just loving it. And so are the kids. I am so thankful for the privilege of schooling our kids.

We've been battling sickness (flu, cough, colds, sinus pressure.... argggh) for the past few weeks, all of us at various times... virus #2 now cycling through our home :(, and even though we are sick and weary, there has been great peace in our schooling, and for that I am thankful.

One of the things that has been a great blessing to me is that we REALLY pared down our evening engagements this year. We have one thing each week in the evening. Same night, every week. And that's it. So our evenings have become a time of rest again, which is so good and was so needed.

Last year I felt like we were running here and there and everywhere- always hurrying to make dinner and then eating it QUICK! We have to leave in 20 minutes! and trying to get out the door and then home to the mess of the kitchen and late to bed for everyone... and this year we just said no. To a lot of things. And I am so thankful. Now we're home, eating dinner together and then cleaning up together and then retiring to the living room for read-aloud and puzzles or play. It's been a sweet gift to us all.

We started it while we were on our road-trip; it was our vacation read-aloud. And honestly? At the start I was unconvinced. I have heard oodles about this book/series and had picked it up several times and read a page here or there at various bookstores and at the library, and I always ended up putting it down, thinking, "Eh. No."

But... we needed a new read-aloud, so I finally decided to give it a go (and trust all those who had recommended it). It only took us a couple of chapters and the kids LOVED THE BOOK. We all do. We actually finished it last night and are on to the second in the series. There is a bit of sailing jargon to get through-- which was maybe what was off-putting to me when I'd looked at it before?-- but it will definitely rank in the category of our favorite family read-alouds. [And oh, Titty. How I adore you.] (She is going on my list (the list that only actually exists in my head) of favorite girls in stories. You know, along with Anne Shirley and Jo March and Laura Ingalls? Yes. Also: Able-Seaman Titty. I love her spirit. :))

I wish I would have snapped a picture of the "boats" we had in our back yard when we got back from vacation-- one flying a Swallows flag and the other an Amazon flag. And all the adventures the kids were acting out from the story. They are so engaged with it and it has been a great delight to read it aloud. :)
So there you go. A hearty recommendation of a fine book.Any recommendations you'd like to toss my way?